Want to learn a cool new skill? How about knitting? I know it looks intimidating, but I promise it's not. I'm the most dyspraxic person you'll ever meet, and even I can do it.
Knitting is a craft technique used to turn yarn into fabric. Essentially, it's nothing more than making a bunch of loops. As knitting uses loops instead of criss-crossing threads like weaving does, the resulting fabric is elastic. Knitting is usually done on needles, though loom knitting is also possible.
Other techniques to turn yarn into fabric are nålebinding (an old as balls yarn manipulation technique employing a tapestry needle) and crochet.
The bare minimum requirements to get started are yarn and a set of knitting needles in a matching size. Check your yarn label to see what needle size it requires. It didn't come with a label? Try to guestimate your yarn weight and go from there. A general rule of thumb is: the thicker your yarn, the thicker your needles should be.
As a beginner, start out with a pair of straight needles. There are other types of needles like circular needles or double-pointed needles, but keep those for after you've mastered the basics. Check out this guide on types of knitting needles if you're curious.
There are many types of yarn too, but for your first project just stick to one you find comfortable to touch. Check out this guide to yarn types if you want to know more.
Other items you may find useful as you progress in your knitting journey are a stitch counter, a cable needle, stitch markers, stitch holders, a tapestry needle, a crochet hook, and maybe even a yarn bowl. But let's keep those for for a more advanced tutorial. :)
You can buy needles and yarn from almost any craft store. However, the goal of this blog is to avoid buying new things, so here are some zero waste alternatives:
- Ask around if anyone has supplies you can borrow, or maybe even leftover yarn. A lot of knitters always buy an extra skein of yarn when starting a new project in case they need more than estimated. This often leaves us with a collection of random skeins. Maybe one of your friends has some extra skeins lying around?
- Trade yarn with fellow knitters. My friend and I save up all of our spare bits of yarn and trade them with each other whenever we run out of inspiration.
- Thrift stores are your friend! I have knitting needles in almost every available European size, and the entire collection only cost me €5 because I got them from the thrift shop's craft corner. You'll also frequently find unused skeins of yarn in thrift stores.
- Online thrifting is also a good option. I recently got €100 worth of yarn for €35 on Vinted because someone had bought the wrong type of yarn for a project and decided to resell the lot online. There's also a lot of people selling leftover yarn from past projects online.
- Ask around in freecycle groups. You'll likely bump into people who picked up knitting as a hobby once but didn't like it and are now stuck with supplies they don't use.
- If you're really adventurous, you could also browse second-hand shops for knitted items made from a yarn you like, and unravel the yarn at home.
The best place to get knitting patterns is Ravelry. It's THE place to be on the internet for everything knitting related. If you make a free account, you'll get access to tons of knitting patterns (both paying and free), a yarn database, and fora where you can ask any knitting-related questions.
Check if your local library has any books on knitting. If it doesn't, then check out an online library such as Archive.org. You'll find a lot of free vintage knitting patterns there.
Allfreeknitting.com is also a good source for free patterns, and so is Knitty.com.
If you have dyscalculia/dyslexia or any other reasons why reading a written-out pattern may give you trouble, I can highly recommend Pierrot patterns. Pierrot is a Japanese yarn brand that has a ton of free knitting patterns on their website which rely on schematics rather than text. Most have been translated to English, but even the original Japanese ones are fairly easy to follow as the instructions are visual rather than written.
Let's look at some of the most basic stitches you'll need to know to get started:
[ID: blue swatch: stockinette stitch; green swatch: garter stitch.]
Cast-on: a cast-on is a technique to get your yarn onto your needles when starting a new project. There are many different types of cast-ons that will give different effects, but let's stick to the most basic cast-on for now.
Video tutorial for a basic cast-on
Text tutorial for a basic cast-on
(Note: if you find this specific cast-on difficult to do, try out a different one. There's plenty of options.)
Knit: the knit stitch is the most basic stitch in knitting. On the right side of your work, it looks like a little v. On the wrong side of your work, it looks like a little -. Most knitting projects will use this stitch. If all of your rows have been knit with the knit stitch, you get the garter stitch. This is the easiest way to knit.
Video tutorial for the knit stitch
Text tutorial for the knit stitch
Purl: the purl stitch is the second most basic knitting stitch. It looks like a - on the right side of your work and a v on the wrong side of your work: it's the exact opposite of a knit stitch! If you purl every row, you also get the garter stitch.
If you alternate between rows of knits with rows of purls, you get the stockinette stitch: the basic knit stitch most commercial sweaters and t-shirts are made of. And if you alternate between a knit and a purl within the same row, you get ribbing, which is great for the edges of your work.
Video tutorial for the purl stitch
Text tutorial for the purl stitch
Slip stitch: the slip stitch is literally what it sounds like: you slip a stitch from one needle to the other. This stitch can be used for many reasons, but beginners will mainly use it as an edge stitch. By not knitting the first stitch of your row, you'll create a neater edge for your work.
Video tutorial for the slip stitch
Text tutorial for the slip stitch
Bind-off: binding off your work, also known as casting off, is a technique used to finish your work and to get it off your needle without unraveling it. There are many different techniques to bind off your work, but let's stick to the most basic one for now.
Video tutorial for a basic bind-off
Text tutorial for a basic bind-off
Other stitches you'll find useful as you take on more adventurous projects:
Increase: increasing means adding new stitches to your work. This technique is used to shape your work. There are many different types of increases, but as always we'll stick to the most basic one for now.
Video tutorial for a basic increase
Text tutorial for a basic increase
Decrease: decreasing means subtracting stitches from your work. This technique is used to shape your work. There are many different types of decreases, but as always we'll stick to the most basic one for now.
Video tutorial for a basic decrease
Text tutorial for a basic decrease
Yarn over: a yarn over means wrapping your yarn around your needle before working a stitch. This technique will also increase your amount of stitches, but unlike the above techniques, a yarn over leaves a hole. This stitch is used a lot in lace knitting.
Video tutorial for a yarn over
Text tutorial for a yarn over
How do you know how many stitches to cast on for a project? Will your project even fit you? To figure this out, you need to know your yarn's gauge.
Imagine a 10x10cm (4x4 inch) square of knitting. This 10cm swatch will have a specific amount of stitches per row, and a specific amount of rows. These two combined are your knitting gauge.
Every knitting pattern will specify which gauge you need to knit the pattern in the intended size. A gauge will consist of two numbers, for example 22x30. This means the pattern's intended gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows for a square of 10x10cm (4x4 inch) of knitting.
Your personal knitting gauge is defined by the yarn you're using, the size of your needles, and your own personal knitting tension. This means you'll have to make a gauge swatch for every new yarn/needle combination you're using.
Most commercial yarns will have a gauge estimate on their label. If the sizing of your project doesn't need to be super accurate, you can often just go by this estimate. Do keep in mind that your personal gauge will often differ from this estimate, though.
Don't be scared by swatching! It's easier than it looks, I promise! And don't worry, you won't be wasting any yarn doing this. You can always unravel your swatch once you're done, or use your swatch as a dish cloth.
How to knit a gauge swatch
How to measure your gauge swatch
Let's make a scarf! Just a straight no-nonsense scarf, nothing more.
Get your yarn and your needles and cast on the amount of stitches needed to get the width you want your scarf to be. How do you know how much stitches this will be? Either check your yarn's label, make a gauge swatch, or guestimate how much you need by trial-and-error. It's just a scarf, sizing isn't super important.
Row 1: slip your first stitch, then knit every stitch until you reach the end of your row. Turn your work around.
Row 2: slip your first stitch, then purl every stitch until you reach the end of your row. Turn your work around. This will give you a stockinette scarf.
Want to make things even easier? Forgo the purling and just knit every row: this will result in a garter stitch scarf.
Repeat these two rows until your scarf is your desired length, then cast off.
You've done it! You've made your first knitting project! Have fun wearing your scarf! Need more practice? Scarves make great gifts, and certain charities will take your scarves to hand out in winter, too.
Knitting takes practice, but it's not as hard as it looks. There's tons of options once you've got the hang of it: scarves, sweaters, hats, tops, blankets, gloves, bags,...
Good luck, and feel free to show me your work!
